First Friday entertains, teaches at WonderLab

For most of Friday evening, children zealously explored the WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology.

They ran from exhibit to exhibit, witnessing science and music in action.

But for nearly 45 minutes, they sat silent, mesmerized by the University Players’ performance of “Captain Louie.”

The program was one of the museum’s First Friday events for which WonderLab reduces admission and features different themes and artists.

Andrea Oeding, the museum’s assistant gallery operations manager and the event’s director, said the themes relate to the science of art as well as activities.

“It’s been well-received by members,” Oeding said. “They get to try something unique that’s maybe not offered in school and meet the artists up close.”

The First Friday events are funded by grants and private donations that allow the Wonderlab to offer the free programs.

They will continue through 2013 and, hopefully, longer, Oeding said.

“Captain Louie” is a mini-musical based on “The Trip” by Ezra Jack Keats.

Kids craned their necks and sat on parents’ shoulders to catch glimpses of the University Players. The group gallivanted around the stage in colorful costumes as they danced and sang.

“Captain Louie” is the first children’s play the University Players have performed.

Megan Gray, director of “Captain Louie” and a theater education student at IU, brought the idea of performing a children’s musical to the University Players.

Since then, “Captain Louie” has been performed at two local elementary schools and the Monroe County Public Library.

The University Players have also paired with the Bloomington Playwrights Project’s after-school program.

“Bloomington has so many elementary schools that not all of them are able to afford arts programs, or the programs are kind of dwindling,” said Sam Ostrowski, educational outreach director for the University Players and an IDS opinion columnist. “That’s been another main goal — to make sure that kids get that arts experience.”

Sara Wagner and her family have attended First Friday events in the past.

“We love them,” she said. “It’s really fun, especially the price being what it is.”

Senior Charlie Jesseph also performed at the event.

He demonstrated how music is connected to science by using a cajón, a box with a thin side of wood that vibrates when struck.

Children had the chance to play Jesseph’s makeshift percussion instruments to learn how frequencies and wavelengths work in music.

“Every single kid that I’ve played for has had eyes wide open,” Jesseph said. “They’ve been really interested in it. It’s been tons of fun.”